Me last year – 2012
The Multiple Sclerosis Champaign,
Useful insight about MS
I was really shocked when the registrar in the absence of my consultant informed me at the last consultation that my MS diagnosis is, Secondary Progressive which is quite an advanced stage.
However, I was now able to make sense of what the consultant said previously, ‘From where you began you should not be walking.’
As mentioned before, I started totally paralysed. My research has shown that MS patients can be totally paralysed after a period; my journey has been different. I asked my MS nurse if she had ever met anyone who started as me to which she responded, ‘Never’. So I reflected on what was happening.
Multiple sclerosis is a condition of the central nervous system. The nerve fibres are covered by a coating called the myelin. This is arranged similarly to an electric flex where the wires are covered by a plastic coating which protects the nerve fibres which enables messages to travel quickly and smoothly between the brain and the rest of the body.
Nerve Fibers and Myelin Attack in MS patients.Photo courtesy www.rxlist.com
When the myelin is damaged it interrupts messages travelling along the fibres. As well as myelin loss there can sometimes be damage to the actual fibres, this causes a more serious disability. Therefore it would seem that my nerve fibres are seriously damaged. Why am I now walking and even able to drive?
Well there are four types of MS: Relapsing & Remitting, Secondary Progressive and Primary Progressive. The initial stage involves various symptoms such as: pins and needles, dizziness, weakness (which I had), and then back to normal; this is relapsing and remitting.
MS Sufferer Montel Williams. Photo courtesy suite101.com
As the condition progresses one enters the Secondary Progressive where there is little or no recovery, had I been over 40 years the diagnosis would have been Primary Progressive which is quite advanced and continues to deteriorate but since I was in my twenties it would have been Secondary Progressive.
My situation was quite advanced that is why my consultant made that statement. So to be still walking seemed incredible. Now I get around using a walker and still able to drive although I don’t. I have changed my diet and lifestyle. Next time I will tell you about the symptoms I am experiencing and the treatment I am using.
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